Magistrate criticises Herald Sun editor

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A magistrate today described the editor of the Herald Sun
as extremely rude for refusing to appear before him to defend
a potentially prejudicial article.

Magistrate Robert Tuppen had called for
editor-in-chief Peter Blunden to front the court to explain an
article in today's Herald Sun newspaper relating to
attempted murder charges against Joseph William Korp and Tania
Lee-Anne Herman.

Both were charged over the disappearance of Mr Korp's wife,
Maria, who is recovering in hospital.

Mr Tuppen was angered by an article about an interview with Ms
Herman's brother, in which made unsubstantiated claims about
Mr Korp.

Unsubstantiated published information that is deemed to be
prejudicial to a case can lead to charges, called contempt.

Mr Tuppen said he was "pretty unhappy" that the story had
appeared on the same page as the story detailing the charges
against the pair, and banned Herald Sun journalists from
accessing information about the case.

He also requested Mr Blunden attend the Melbourne Magistrates
Court to explain the paper's actions.